Ecology & Management of Ventenata in the Inland Northwest

Transcription

1 Ecology & Management of Ventenata in the Inland Northwest John Wallace, Tim Prather, Andrew Mackey & Pamela Pavek University of Idaho & USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center WSARE Project ( )

2 Outline WSARE Project Measuring Impacts: Production & Conservation Ventenata Biology Ventenata IPM Development

3 VEDU Identification

4 Source: P. Pavek, USDA-NRCS-PMC Annual Grass Invasion Ventenata (African wiregrass) distribution in Inland Northwest

5 Ventenata Weediness in Inland Northwest UI-SSRU; 2011 Survey Source: Kane, UI-SSRU wheat Ventenata weediness? bluegrass timothy-hay CRP grass-hay pasture non-crop % of Respondents

6 VEDU Impacts on Management 2011 Producer Mail Survey (UI-Social Science Research Unit; S. Kane) No. of Producer Respondents Ventenata Impact Year Established Began Control % of Producer Respondents VEDU Impacts Increased Cost Altered Management No A Little Bit A Great Deal Source: Kane Time Period Source: Kane Relative Level of Impact

7 VEDU Impacts on Enterprise Budgets 2011 Delphi Surveys (UI Ag Econ; K. Painter) Example: Timothy Hay Management Scenario Stand Life Price ($/tn) Yield (tn/ac) Net Revenue Can t sell hay Sell hay at reduced yield & price VEDU managed (price & yield reduced) No VEDU present Enterprise Budgets: 1) timothy hay, 2) grass hay, 3) small pasture, 4) CRP Survey Standard Control Strategies Cost-Price-Yield Revenue

8 VEDU Impacts on Wildlife Habitat (UI: A. Mackey) % Cover by Functional Group No. Individuals at Reproductive Stages

9 Ventenata Ecology in Perennial Grass Systems Growth & Development Patterns Degree Day Model (DDM) Development Seedbank Life & Germination Response to Temperature VEDU Litter Effects on VEDU populations VEDU x Endophyte Interactions

10 Regional VEDU Growth Models in PNW (UI Weed Sci, OSU: Sbatella) Site Location System Moscow ID CRP Worley ID CRP Harvard ID Timothy Hay Usk WA Timothy Hay Helmer ID Pasture Usk WA Pasture Anatone WA Range Enterprise OR Range Madras OR Range (12-13)

11 Regional VEDU Growth Models in PNW (UI Weed Sci, OSU: G. Sbatella) Expected Outputs: 1) Hydro-thermal models (GDD approach) for VEDU phenological growth stages: seedling emergence (cumulative) vegetative stem elongation inflourescence seed ripening 2) Comparative vegetative growth models with annual and perennial grasses: bluebunch wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, orchardgrass, smooth brome, timothy, downy brome, medusahead Early Observations: Seedling emergence strongly affected by available soil moisture Greater spring seedling emergence in higher managed systems (timothy hay) Later mean seedling emergence in rangeland systems? Soil moisture effect?

12 VEDU Seed Biology (NRCS: P. Pavek, UI Weed Sci) Seedbank Life: 2 sites in Palouse Prairie 2 depths (2 & 8 cm) Seeds per packet: 100 Initiated: 1 Oct 2009 Months after Burial Site % germination Pullman WA 2 cm 81 0 <1 0 <1 8 cm Moscow ID 2 cm <1 0 8 cm Temperature Effects on Germination: 5 populations across region Expected Outputs: optimal germination temperature days to mean germination germination thresholds between population variation % Total Germination Temperature (C)

13 Litter Effects on VEDU Growth & Development (UI Weed Sci)

14 Litter Effects on VEDU Growth & Development (UI Weed Sci) VEDU Seedling Density (per pot) VEDU Seedling Density Oct Nov Dec Jan No Litter 5-g Litter 10-g Litter 20-g Litter Soil Volume Water Content VEDU Litter Effects No Litter 5-g Litter 10-g Litter 20-g Litter 0.00 Oct Nov Dec Jan Growing Season Increased VEDU litter (%) 1. Higher germination rates 2. Higher seedling survival 3. Higher seedling growth rates Increased VEDU litter (%) 1. Higher soil moisture 2. Lower max temperatures 3. Higher min temperatures

15 Endophyte Effects on Grass Competitors? 2012-present (UI: G. Newcombe & D. Griffith) Fusarium Effects on Ventenata Fusarium Effects on Downy Brome Aboveground Biomass (g) Aboveground Biomass (g) Control BRTE Fusarium VEDU Fusarium Control BRTE Fusarium VEDU Fusarium

16 VEDU Endophyte Effects on Community Assembly? 2012-present (UI: G. Newcombe & D. Griffith) Fusarium Effects on Bluebunch Wheatgrass Aboveground Biomass (g) Control BRTE Fusarium VEDU Fusarium

17 Ventenata Management: Control & IPM Field Trials (Pre- and Post-Emergent Apps) 2012-present IPM Trials (CRP, hay, pasture)

18 Ventenata Control in Perennial Grass Systems 2011-present (UI Weed Sci) Soil % Organic Site Location Perennial Grass Stand Texture Matter Soil ph Anatone WA Bluebunch wheatgrass silt loam Grangeville ID Timothy loam Moscow ID Smooth brome/orchardgrass silt loam n/a n/a Moscow ID Intermediate wheatgrass silt loam Grangeville ID Intermediate wheatgrass clay loam Applications (Fall 2011): 5 selective herbicides per site; 2 application timings (pre- and post-emergent) Pre-emergent (Oct 7-10) & Post-emergent (Nov 1-10; 1-2 leaf stage)

19 Product (chemical) Outrider; (sulfosulfuron) Plateau (imazapic) Matrix (rimsulfuron) Canter (propoxycarbazone) Axiom (flufenacet/ metribuzin) fl oz/ac ($/ac) 1.0 ($17/ac) 6.0 ($10/ac) 3.0 ($40/ac) 1.0 ($14/ac) 8.0 (n/a) VEDU Labeled No No No No No Labeled for Use non-crop pasture rangeland CRP natural areas aerial application forage grass grass/legume forage CRP Land small pasture rangeland aerial application non-ag wildlife non-crop agriculture federal EDRR CRP land pasture rangeland grass-hay none applicable grass-hay? Label Summary Other Weedy Grasses Controlled downy brome bulbous bluegrass downy brome medusahead meadow foxtail Italian ryegrass downy brome Italian ryegrass meadow foxtail medusahead downy brome rattail fescue windgrass downy brome meadow foxtail rattail fescue Grazing Restrictions No grazing restriction; Rest 2 wks before and after application for best results. No grazing restriction; Do not harvest hay for 7 d after treatment No established tolerance for forage grass or grazing; 1 yr grazing restriction No grazing restriction --

20 Ventenata Control in Perennial Grass Systems 2011-present (UI Weed Sci) VEDU Control 1 Perennial Grass Injury (PRE/POST) 2 Treatment (prod/ac) PRE/POST PSSP THIN DAGL BRIN PHPR -- % % Outrider (1 oz/ac) 88/96 na/5 0/9 13/11 9/11 na/16 Plateau (6 oz/ac) 73/86 na/0 0/0 13/10 13/10 na/55 Matrix (3 oz/ac) 97/95 na/3 13/4 0/0 0/0 na/20 Canter (1 oz/ac) 66/80 na/0 0/0 8/1 8/1 na/4 Axiom (8 oz/ac) 90/83 na/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 na/0 1 VEDU control averaged across sites 2 PSSP = bluebunch wheatgrass; THIN = intermediate wheatgrass; DAGL = orchardgrass; BRIN = smooth brome; PHPR = timothy * Ratings based on peak biomass evaluation (10 Jul 12); no treatment effect on yield in comparison to untreated check

21 IPM Decision Tool Development 2012-Present (UI Weed Sci)

22 IPM Strategies NPK Fertilization Timing & Crop Competitiveness Timothy Hay Management Guidelines: (S. Fransen; WSU-IAREC, Prosser WA) Higher harvest heights (> 5 in) preserve stored sugars important for surviving drought stress and growth Fall P&K fertilization increase root and shoot development, resulting in earlier spring green-up. IPM Fertilizer Treatments: NPK rates based on fall soil sample + recommendations (UI Forage) PK fall application timed to precede fall rains N spring application timed to GDD recommendations (UI Forage)

23 VEDU IPM for Timothy Hay 2012-present (UI Weed Sci) Timothy Hay Treatment Layout VEDU Control Treatment Fall Spray Axiom 8 oz/ac No Spray Cultural Treatment (Harvesting Height) 2 height 5 height 2 height + fall graze Control 5 height + Fall Spray 5 height + No Spray 2 height + Fall Spray 2 height + No Spray 2 hgt + graze + Fall Spray 2 hgt + graze + No Spray Fall Spray + Control Control + Control Study Design Replicated at LOW (<20% cover) & HIGH (>40% cover) sites Replicated at two study areas

24 5 harvest height (M) vs. 2 + graze (L) & 2 (R) Sept 2012

25 VEDU IPM for CRP Systems 2012-present (UI Weed Sci) CRP Treatment Layout VEDU Control Treatment Fall Spray Outrider 1 oz/ac No Spray Spring Burn Spring Burn + Fall Spray Spring Burn + No Spray Cultural Treatment (Litter Removal & Crop Stimulation) Fall Burn Fall Burn + Fall Spray Fall Burn + No Spray Fall Fertilize Fertilize + Fall Spray Fertilize + No Spray Mow Mow + Fall Spray Mow + No Spray Mow and Remove Mow and Remove + Fall Spray Mow and Remove + No Spray Control Fall Spray + Control Control + Control Study Design Replicated at LOW (<20% cover) & HIGH (>40% cover) sites Replicated at two study areas

26 Fall Burn + Spray vs. Mow + Remove

27 Fall Burn + Spray vs. Control (5 MAT)

28 Spring Burn in HIGH VEDU Plots

29 Spring Burn in LOW VEDU Plots

30 VEDU IPM for Small Pasture Systems 2012-present (UI Weed Sci) Pasture Treatment Layout VEDU Control Treatment Fall Spray Outrider 1 oz/ac No Spray Cultural Treatment (Grazing Timing) Summer Graze Fall Graze Fertilize Control Summer Graze + Fall Spray Summer Graze + No Spray Fall Graze + Fall Spray Fall Graze + No Spray Fertilize + Fall Spray Fertilize + No Spray Fall Spray + Control Control + Control Study Design Replicated at LOW (<20% cover) & HIGH (>40% cover) sites Replicated at two study areas

31 Ventenata Resources: QUESTIONS NRCS Bulletin: PNW Weed Mmgnt Handbook: Ventenata Listserve: QUESTIONS John Wallace, Tim Prather, Andrew Mackey & Pamela Pavek University of Idaho & USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center

32 VEDU Impacts on Regional Economy 2012 Input-Output Model (UI Ag Econ; P. Watson) Scenario: No VEDU management in hay & forage Impact Type* Jobs Regional GDP ($ millions) Direct Indirect Induced Scenario: VEDU managed in hay & forage at a reduced loss in net revenues Impact Type* Jobs Regional GDP ($ millions) Direct Indirect Induced Total Total * Impacts include indirect & induced effects. Induced effects measure multiplier effects at a regional economy scale

33 Work Truck (X1090) October 25, 2011

34 CRP Agricultural Matrix Moscow ID

35 Palouse Prairie Remnant Moscow ID

36 Pasture - CRP St Maries ID

37 Highway 95 Roadcut Northern Idaho

38 Pretreatment Soil Samples System Pasture CRP Timothy Site Olesen Park Ranch Jackman Carlson Driver North Driver South Ventenata Infestation Available P Available K µg/g µg/g NH 4 -N µg/g % Organic Matter Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High ph